RACINE — This was a case for the defense.

Using a strong defensive effort, the Symmes Valley Vikings opened the season with a 26-6 win over the Racine Southern Tornadoes Friday.

The Vikings held the Tornadoes to zero net yards rushing and 68 passing.

“The defense played very, very well,” said Vikings’ coach Rusty Webb. “Our defensive line and interior with Kyle Bowen and Grant and Garrett Foster were forcing double teams. It allowed our linebackers to run around and make plays.

“We used several ends to keep people fresh and they played better than in our scrimmages. Our pass coverage looked very good.”

Jacob Patterson intercepted a pass and ran it back to the 11-yard line to set up the Vikings first score. Cody Myers hit Hunter Boggs with a 6-yard scoring strike and Tyler Easthom’s kick made it 7-0.

The special teams produced the second score as Grant Foster blocked a punt and Kyle Bowen ran it back 37 yards to make it 13-0.

The fast start was slowed by 14 penalties for 218 yards.

“We got off to a good start and ready to play. We got the quick 13-0 lead and the kids maintained their focus, but that’s when the penalties started,” said Webb. “A lot of our penalties were due to Southern having a very good defense and their hustle.”

Besides Patterson, Easthom, Foster and Myers all had interceptions.

“A lot of that was our front guys putting pressure on the quarterback and making him throw before he wanted,” said Webb.

After Southern scored on a 1-yard run by Greg Jenkins in the third quarter, the Vikings got a 40-yard touchdown run by Bowen and a 29-yard scoring run by Evan Herrell in the fourth quarter to put the game away.

Bowen had 64 yards on 10 carries and Herrell 60 on nine attempts as the ground game racked up 245 yards on 50 carries.

“All our backs did a good job blocking for each other. Cody Myers did a nice job running our offense. He’s a sophomore and a new starter,” said Webb.

Symmes Valley 13 0 0 13 = 26

Southern 0 0 6 0 = 6

First Quarter

SV — Hunter Boggs 6 pass from Cody Myers (Tyler Easthom kick) 9:03

SV —Kyle Bowen 37 blocked punt return (kick failed) 8:04

Third Quarter

RS — Greg Jenkins 1 run (kick failed) 5:58

Fourth Quarter

SV — Kyle Bowen 40 run (Tyler Easthom kick) 6:46

SV — Evan Herrell 29 run (kick failed) 2:56

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SV RS

First downs 19 7

Rushes-yards 50-245 33-0

Passing yards 41 68

Total yards 286 68

Fumbles-lost 1-1 2-2

Penalties 14-218 10-66

Punts 3-26.3 3-22.3

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING—Symmes Valley: Tyler Easthom 8-45, Kyle Bowen 10-64, Cody Myers 6-6, Evan Herrell 9-60, Justin Payne 8-44, Jacob Patterson 6-18, C.J. Blankenship 2-5, Austin Owens 1-3; Southern: Greg Jenkins 19-20.

PASSING—Symmes Valley: Cody Myers 4-10-0 41; Southern: Jordan Taylor 2-11-4 52, Michael Manuel 1-1-0 16.

RECEIVING—Symmes Valley: Hunter Boggs 1-6, Evan Herrell 1-9, Tyler Easthom 1-18, Justin Payne 1-8; Southern: Dustin Salser 2-52, Sean Coppick 1-16.